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THERAPIES & TRADITIONS · GUIDE

Meditation for Blood Pressure and Heart Health: Evidence

What the American Heart Association and reviews say about meditation, MBSR and Transcendental Meditation for blood pressure and heart risk. Small possible effects, never a replacement for medicine.

Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.

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High blood pressure usually has no symptoms and can lead to heart attack and stroke. [1] This page looks at what research says about meditation as an add-on to standard care. It is information only. Meditation does not replace blood pressure medicine, and you should not stop or change any medicine without your clinician. Labels used: promising but limited, mixed, insufficient evidence.

What the American Heart Association says

A 2017 AHA scientific statement reviewed meditation and cardiovascular risk. It concluded that studies suggest a possible benefit, although the overall quality and, in some cases, quantity of data are modest. Because meditation is low-cost and low-risk, it may be considered as an adjunct to guideline-directed cardiovascular risk reduction by those interested, with the understanding that the benefits remain to be better established. [2] An earlier 2013 AHA statement on blood pressure rated Transcendental Meditation (TM) Class IIB, Level B, and other meditation techniques Class III, Level C, meaning modest, mixed or no consistent evidence. [3]

What reviews of trials found

PracticeWhat the source foundStrength of evidence
MBSR (12 trials)Office blood pressure fell by 6.64 (systolic) and 2.47 (diastolic) mm Hg; no significant drop in out-of-office readings; only one trial at low risk of bias [4]promising but limited
Mindfulness programs (12 trials, 715 people)Larger drops reported, systolic about 9 mm Hg, more in people with higher starting pressure [5]promising but limited
MBSR (7 trials, 429 people)Very low-quality evidence; only one trial reported safety data [6]insufficient evidence
TM (overview of 8 reviews)About 4 mm Hg systolic and 2 mm Hg diastolic; conflicting findings and risk of bias [7]mixed
Meditation (19 trials)Non-TM meditation lowered pressure; TM result on 24-hour monitoring was not significant for systolic [8]mixed

Frequently asked questions

Can meditation lower blood pressure?

Small reductions were found in reviews of mostly small, low-quality trials. [4][6]

Can I stop my blood pressure medicine?

No. The AHA statement frames meditation as an adjunct to standard risk reduction. [2]

Is Transcendental Meditation better than other types?

Results are mixed. An overview put TM at about 4/2 mm Hg, while a trial meta-analysis found non-TM meditation lowered pressure. [7][8]

Does it help heart disease itself?

The AHA statement found a possible benefit on risk, but the data quality was modest. [2]

Is it safe?

It is usually low-risk, though some people report anxiety or depression. [10]

More details: evidence, limits and cautions

The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.

How to read these numbers
Trial blood pressure results vary with how pressure is measured. In the MBSR review, benefits showed in office readings but not in out-of-office readings, which are often a better guide to daily life. [4] In the review of MBSR for hypertension, the studies had a high degree of heterogeneity, meaning results differed widely. [6] The TM overview notes that two of its eight reviews came from a TM-related institution and calls for long-term trials by independent researchers. [7] Meditation trials cannot hide the practice from participants, which limits what the results can show.

For context, a network meta-analysis of 120 trials found the DASH diet most effective among nonpharmacologic options, and that aerobic exercise, breathing control and meditation could also lower pressure. [9] NCCIH summarizes the AHA position: possible benefit, specific effects not determined. [10]

Safety and who should check first
Meditation is generally low-risk, but about 8 percent of participants in a review reported a negative effect, mostly anxiety or depression. [10] If you have high blood pressure, the NHS says a GP will usually prescribe medicine when pressure is very high, when risk of heart attack or stroke is higher, or when pressure stays high after lifestyle changes. [1] Keep taking prescribed medicine and tell your care team about any practice you add. For emergencies, the NHS says to call 999 (UK) for chest pain that feels tight or squeezing or spreads to the arms, neck or jaw. [11] In the US, call 911.

See also breathing and relaxation basics, box breathing, resonance breathing and HRV biofeedback, Transcendental Meditation, medication interactions and talking with a health professional.

References
  1. NHS. High blood pressure (hypertension). Read 2026-10-22. Read 2026-10-22.
  2. Levine GN, et al. Meditation and Cardiovascular Risk Reduction: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. J Am Heart Assoc. 2017. Read 2026-10-22.
  3. Brook RD, et al. Beyond medications and diet: alternative approaches to lowering blood pressure: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Hypertension. 2013. Read 2026-10-22.
  4. Effect and Acceptability of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program on Patients With Elevated Blood Pressure or Hypertension: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Hypertension. 2020. Read 2026-10-22.
  5. Effect of mindfulness-based interventions on people with prehypertension or hypertension: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. BMC Cardiovasc Disord. 2024. Read 2026-10-22.
  6. A systematic review and meta-analysis of mindfulness-based stress reduction for arterial hypertension. J Hum Hypertens. 2023. Read 2026-10-22.
  7. Transcendental meditation for lowering blood pressure: An overview of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Complement Ther Med. 2017. Read 2026-10-22.
  8. Meditation and blood pressure: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. J Hypertens. 2017. Read 2026-10-22.
  9. Nonpharmacologic Interventions for Reducing Blood Pressure in Adults With Prehypertension to Established Hypertension. J Am Heart Assoc. 2020. Read 2026-10-22.
  10. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Meditation and Mindfulness: Effectiveness and Safety. Read 2026-10-22.
  11. NHS. Heart attack. Read 2026-10-22. Read 2026-10-22.
Education, not medical advice. This page is for general information. It does not diagnose or treat any condition and is not a substitute for care from a qualified health professional. Natural does not automatically mean safe. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before changing your care, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition.